News

Pat Danehy, Guest Columnist Published 12:18pm EST | Dec. 18, 2020 | Memphis Business Journal Like many, in December I reflect on accomplishments and challenges of the year and hopes for the future —with gratitude for the opportunity to do so. In both my professional and civic seats here in Memphis, the term “investment” is a constant. When one invests, it is the intent that the investment will yield a positive return. I’ve reflected upon the economic impact of... Read More

Pat Mitchell-Worley, Guest Columnist  Published 4 a.m.| December 12. 2020 | The Daily Memphian I believe art is not just a “feel-good,” esoteric aesthetic. Art is not just about the intangible. Art is not just about the now. In a year weighed down by the daily struggle and short-term, significant impacts of a pandemic on our households, organizations and communities, we forget to look further. It’s almost impossible to look further. However, for our youths, thes... Read More

MEMPHIS, TN, December 10, 2020— In conjunction with the inaugural Arts Week, ArtsMemphis today announced a grant from the Regions Foundation of Tennessee to provide financial support to arts organizations in the form of unrestricted grants. Arts Week, occurring from December 7 – 13, 2020, is a community-wide celebration spotlighting all that our local artists and organizations have created and accomplished throughout this unprecedented year. For over 20 years, the nonprofit Regi... Read More

Rodney Sanders, Guest Columnist  Published 4:00 AM | December 9, 2020 | The Daily Memphian To celebrate the work artists and arts organizations have created in 2020 despite the pandemic, ArtsMemphis is introducing its inaugural Arts Week Dec. 7-13. ArtsMemphis provides grants to 70 arts organization, and this year supplied emergency funds to individual artists. From an early age, I’ve been drawn to the arts. I remember my third-grade teacher taking the class to see “B... Read More

Published in The Daily Memphian, December 2, 2020 | Chris Herrington “Someday soon we all will be together/If the fates allow/Until then, we’ll have to muddle through somehow.” Judy Garland debuted “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in the 1944 film “Meet Me in St. Louis.” So devoted am I to director Vincente Minnelli’s movie musical that I had no idea until a couple of years ago that there are versions (looking at you, Sinatra) that swa... Read More

Mia Henley, Guest Columnist Published: 4:00 a.m. | December 6, 2020 | The Daily Memphian “Who knew?” It's a phrase we have all uttered this year.  Who knew “Zoom” would be a word used daily? That 75-plus seniors would create phenomenal abstract paintings, and learn to write, and play the dulcimer — online?  That older adults would form new friendships through their online class communities? Who knew that talented local musicians would move... Read More

MEMPHIS, November 30, 2020 — ArtsMemphis is proud to announce the inaugural Arts Week, an annual week-long celebration to showcase Memphis’ dynamic, diverse collection of artists and arts organizations. An officially-proclaimed week by both the City of Memphis and Shelby County, Arts Week will splash social media pages of artists and arts organizations, as well as marquees across Memphis neighborhoods and the Mighty Lights on the Memphis riverfront, to spotlight the significance ... Read More

Elizabeth Rouse, Guest Columnist Published: 4:00 a.m. CT | November 14, 2020 | The Daily Memphian We Need to Invest in Local Arts WHO WILL TELL OUR STORY? When we look back on this time, what will we see or remember? The ever-changing variables in today’s economic, social, political, and health landscape are difficult to define or, arguably, even describe. But despite the uncertainty, time and time again, I know who to turn to as our storytellers. Artists are our storytel... Read More

ArtsMemphis is proud to announce its year-end fundraising campaign to respond to the significant needs of Memphis and Shelby County’s arts community. ArtsMemphis awarded $2.8 million to 71 local organizations and hundreds of artists and individuals employed in the arts sector just this year, and is calling for ongoing contributions to sustain this critical level of grant-making. In addition to its annual granting programs, ArtsMemphis instituted the Artist Emergency Relief Fund in par... Read More

The arts sector was one of the first to close in March and will be one of the last to fully reopen. While the impacts are devastating, arts organizations and artists continue to be resilient, creative, and collaborative during these challenging times. The financial overview, employee data and programming updates listed were collected through an ArtsMemphis survey in August and September 2020. 47 Shelby County arts nonprofits responded. $20MM Income Loss Projected for Fiscal Year 2020 ... Read More